Classic Morocco

15 Day Itinerary

This 15 day tour will give you a taste of many of the highlights in Morocco and a few charming touches as well. You will experience a variety of Moroccan sights and cultures - see the bustling and vibrant new cities, explore the ancient medinas with their many treasures, hike in the majestic Atlas Mountains, ride a camel through the vastness of the Sahara Desert, relax along the seashore, visit with indigenous people to learn about their culture, and sample the many flavours of Moroccan food. You can customize this itinerary to spend more time in the areas of most interest to you.

Overview

Day 1: Arrive in Casablanca
Day 2: Casablanca/Volubilis/Fes
Day 3: Explore Fes
Day 4: Day Trip to Chefchaouen
Day 5: Chefchaouen/Marrakech
Day 6: Marrakech
Day 7: Marrakech
Day 8/9: Imlil
Day 10: Ouarzarzate
Day 11: Ouarzazate/M’Hamid
Day 12: M’Hamid/Erg Chegaga
Day 13: Taroudant
Day 14: Essaouira
Day 15: Marrakech airport, Until We Meet Again

Day 1

Arrive in Casablanca

We will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel so that you can enjoy a nice shower and then take you for a delicious “Welcome to Morocco” lunch.
After lunch, we will take you on a tour of the Hassan II mosque - one of the biggest and grandest in the world. A guide will tell you about the history and its current usage.
Depending on your desires, we can take you for dinner at a traditional Moroccan restaurant, a wonderful seafood restaurant, or Rick’s Café from the movie Casablanca. The movie plays on continuous reel in the lounge upstairs if you want to just stop in for a drink.

Day 2

Casablanca to Fes

After breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to Fes with a detour to see the Roman ruins of Volubis, a UNESCO listed site. In Volubis, you will walk around the ruins to discover the marvelous mosaic work with some parts still intact. Then we will have dinner and stay overnight in Fes.

Day 3

Explore Fes

Fes, the cultural capital of Morocco, is home to one of the oldest and most complete medieval Islamic cities in the world. Passing through the gates into the energetic and mazelike medina takes you back in time. The narrow streets are just as they were when they were built in the 8th century, with high walls that protect the courtyards inside from the heat of the midday sun. Enormous theosophical colleges, beautiful mosques and fascinating souks spilling their goods onto the pavement are all part of the scene. You will tour the Fes medina with a professional guide from and have the opportunity to shop and enjoy people watching at a café in the medina.

We will have dinner and stay overnight in Fes.

Day 4

Day Trip to Chefchaouen

After breakfast, we will drive to the town of Chefchaouen. Nuzzled in the Rif mountains, Chefchaouen is best known for its beautiful blue walled medina. It is likely one of the most photographed places in Morocco because of its beauty and its unique culture. Here we will explore the medina and its busy market with its mix of traditional and modern goods. Chefchaouen culture and handicrafts (such as the brightly-decorated hats and woolen garments) are unique to the region.

We will have dinner and stay overnight in Chefchaouen.

Day 5

Chefchaouen to Marrakech

Drive from Chefchaouen to Marrakech. This will be a long driving day. Sit back and enjoy the mountain views while our friendly driver makes sure you are comfortable and well-fed along the way.

Day 6

Marrakech

Known as the Red City because of the colour of the walls that surround the old Kasbah, Marrakech has been a popular tourist destination since the 1960s. Its famous Djemaa el-Fnaa square is the busiest square in Africa with a colourful market and an unparalleled assortment of entertainers including fire-eaters, snake charmers, belly dancers, Amazigh acrobats, and astrologers.
In the morning, we will take you for a Moroccan cooking class where you will shop for the food in the market and then learn how to cook local favourites. This is a true cultural experience. Enjoy a tour of Marrakech in afternoon.

Day 7

Marrakech

After breakfast, spend some time shopping in the market. In the afternoon, enjoy a hamman (traditional Moroccan spa). This is a unique cultural experience.

Day 8&9

Imlil

After breakfast, travel from Marrakech to Imlil. The quaint village of Imlil, located in the picturesque Atlas Mountains settlement, offers stunning views of Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in Morocco. Guided treks and tours are among the area’s most popular activities, as visitors clamber to ascend to the top. You can either relax and explore the rustic charm of the area or if you’re feeling adventurous, guides can be arranged for hikes in the area to suit most levels of ability. You can explore at your own pace.

Day 10

Travel to Quarzazate

Visit Ait Ben Haddou, one of the best preserved ksars in Morocco and location for a number of movies including Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. The ancient kasbah Ait Ben Haddou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After we check into our riad for the night, we will guide you through the kasbah. We will have dinner and stay overnight in Ait Ben Haddou.

Day 11

Quarzazte to

M'Hamid

After breakfast, we will drive south to M’Hamid, a small oasis town nuzzled against the dunes of the Sahara Desert. On the way there, near Agdz, we will take an off road detour through the Palmerie, with a very nice viewpoint. Back on the main road, we will drive through Zagora and Tamgrout on the way to M’Hamid. After lunch, you will ride on camel (dromedary) for approximately 2 hours accompanied by a guide to our desert camp in Erg l’Houdi.

Here we will welcome you with “Berber Whisky” (traditional Moroccan mint tea), and pastries. In Erg l’Houdi you can explore the enchanting landscape of dunes and you can also have fun sandboarding.

Enjoy a delicious dinner and traditional entertainment at our camp in Erg l’Houdi and then spend some time around the bonfire looking up at the beautiful night sky in the desert. We will overnight in the camp in luxury tents.

Day 12

M'Hamid to

Erg Chegaga

If you like sunrises, be sure to wake early for the beautiful desert sunrise. After breakfast, we will drive through the vast stretches of the Sahara Desert, passing the stony desert (Hamada) interrupted by sand dunes. At the oasis Sacre (Holy Oasis), we will have lunch waiting for us. Just in time for sunset, we will reach the sea of dunes at Erg Chegaga, the largest group of sand dunes in the region. They reach a height of 300 m and a width of 40 km. You will sleep here in nomad tents or under the glittery night sky, whichever you prefer. After dinner, we will spend the evening together with our traditional music.

Day 13

Travel to Taroudant

Awake to another beautiful desert sunrise and set out early toward the Atlantic coast to the west. We will drive to Taroudant (little Marrakech) on the way to the coast, stopping for lunch in Tiznit.

Day 14

Travel to Essaouira

Travel to Essouira via Agadir (so you can see the coast where the surfers enjoy Morocco). Essaouira is a quaint fishing town with a laid back vibe and great seafood. After a walk through the medina, soak in the sunset at the coast with a wonderful dinner to top off your Moroccan experience.

Day 15

Essaouira to Marrakech Airport

After breakfast, we will take you to the airport in Marrakech, leaving plenty of time for your flight.

We believe that your vacation should be a magical experience, based on your desires. This itinerary is provided as a general guide and we are happy to customize it to ensure that you have a wonderful time in Morocco.

Other experiences that can be added to your trip include:

extended trips to the desert by camel
express trips from Zagora to the desert using helicopters
ATV/quad biking in the desert
surfing or kitesurfing on the coast
hiking in the mountains
motorcycle trip along the windy mountain roads
cycling in the mountains or any area of interest
an exploration of cooking and the spices of Morocco
a day trip to Tangier to see Spain (Gibraltar) from Morocco

We look forward to welcoming you to Morocco!